Bridgewater College

VIDEO: LAURAMAPP HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

Laura S. Mapp arrived at Bridgewater College in 1961 and built a 37-year legacy as an overwhelmingly successful coach, professor and mentor. Through her drive and determination, she built the Bridgewater women's basketball program into one of the all-time winningest programs in Division III.

Mapp completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Richmond, where she played field hockey, basketball and tennis and was voted into that University's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. She earned her master's degree at the University of Tennessee and also did additional graduate work at the University of Oregon. Prior to coming to Bridgewater, Mapp taught for four years at Warwick High School and served as an assistant for two years at Randolph-Macon Woman's College.

Mapp was the Bridgewater women's basketball coach from 1961to 1996 and compiled a remarkable 484-262 record (a .648 winning percentage) for her career. At the time of her retirement, Mapp ranked seventh on the active winning list of college coaches in all of Divisions I, II and III. Largely due to Mapp's coaching skills, the Bridgewater program ranked second overall in total wins in the NCAA Division III ranks entering the 1997-98 season. During Mapp's tenure, the Eagles captured VAIAW state championships in 1976, '77and '80 and competed in the VAIAW national tournament in 1980 and '82. She also guided the Eagles to ODAC regular season titles in1983 and '89 and an ODAC tournament title in 1990, while participating in the ODAC Tournament finals a total of seven times during her reign as head coach. Mapp's teams had 30 winning seasons, including four 20-win seasons, and posted double-digit wins 31 times over the course of her career.

Mapp's excellence in coaching extended well beyond the basketball court, though. Her Bridgewater field hockey squad won 224 games from 1961-95, including an AIAW Southern Region II championship in 1979 and a VAIAW Div. III state championship in1980. Mapp's 1979 team advanced to the final four of the AIAW national field hockey tournament. In addition, she coached the women's tennis team from 1961-97 and led the Eagle netters to 161 wins during that period. For her achievements, the field hockey and lacrosse playing field adjacent to the football stadium has been re-named Mapp Field in her honor, as well as the Mapp-Whitelow Tennis Courts. Laura's leadership on the playing surface, in the classroom and in the community makes her a unanimous choice for the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame.